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Good News Shout Out, May 15th

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Born out of frustration that mainstream news only promotes the negative, we're bringing you a regular fix of the good news buried underneath the bad. Happy Friday!

Watching mainstream media, you might sometimes feel like human beings are determined to screw up the planet and everyone on it. Yet, all around the world, amazing people – just like you – are coming up with new ways of living, loving and doing business to create a better future for us all. So we’ve decided to dedicate a regular blog to shout out some of the good news we’ve seen each. Here’s this week’s round up...

Mental health matters

In light of Mental Health Awareness Week 2015, thousands of celebrities and entrepreneurs from around the world, have been speaking out about anxiety, depression, emotional well-being and mindfulness – many of which have been touted as “silent killers.”

British mental health charity, Mind, released statistics that estimate one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. In a bid to address an overwhelmingly global demand for better mental health services, comes a solution from Glen Moriarty – the CEO of 7 Cups of Tea. It’s a website and mobile app that allows users, regardless of their background, to chat about their problems with a fully trained volunteer listener, counsellor or psychologist online, for free.

One of the biggest challenges facing relief workers after a natural disaster is delivering aid to those who live or are stranded in isolated areas. In the remote island of Santa Cruz, Solomon Islands, a group of communities in the remote island of Santa Cruz, Solomon Islands, are leading the way with an innovative farming initiative to help as much as they can.

Following the devastating tsunami in 2013, the eight communities decided to join forces and comb their farm resources to create a ‘Super Knowledge Hub.’ The hub guarantees food security as well as allowing communities to learn and share risk-sensitive farming information and technology for the greater good.

A partnership has formed between the European Union’s Climate-KIC, London Mayor Boris Johnson MP and the Chinese government as they gear up to combat climate change. The trio have teamed up to create clusters of future green cities across China and the UK for a more eco-friendly world. The first planned city, Lingang New City in Shanghai province, is set to become a new test site along with Old Oak and Park Royal in London. The project hopes to create low carbon cities that are reliant on clean-tech, generate new pieces of technology to reduce pollution and produce better environmental conservation methods.

Coffee fuels millions of people’s mornings, but have you ever thought about what happens to the husks and waste after we sprint out of our favourite coffee shop?

Adam Fairweather, creator of Green Cup and Re-Worked, has made it his mission to show how coffee waste can be reused and recycled into beautiful pieces of sustainable-chic furniture. Adam now provides FairTrade coffee to offices all over the UK.

Have you come across any other examples of people taking your day-to-day waste and turning it into something wonderful?

In other news:

A Ugandan entrepreneur has made history by starting East Africa’s first women’s only gym. After being subjected to sexual harassment at a mixed gym, Mildred Apenyo opened a fitness centre in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. The gym promises to give women a safe space to come together and enjoy wellness and Mildred now has plans to expand into other Ugandan towns and parts of Africa.

A new piece of legislation has been adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to protect transgender people from discrimination. The Resolution calls for member states to stop discrimination and to recognise and punish hate crimes against transgender people. It is the first time that a document like this has been formally approved in Europe, with the intention of directly addressing discrimination and protecting the human rights of transgender communities.

For the blind and visually impaired, a trained guide dog is the ultimate gift of freedom. Now imagine those puppies being trained by prison inmates. Since 1939 Leader Dogs for the Blind in Michigan, USA has given prisoners the opportunity to take part in its voluntary puppy-raising program “Future Leader Dog Leaders.” The program helps prisoners give back to their community by raising service dogs which go on to help a blind or visually impaired person. Check out the video which is changing the way that we view prisoners.

Watch the heart warming moment when a blind woman ‘sees’ her unborn baby for the first time. The feat was made possible by using the information from her scan to create a 3D printed version of her son. The print also contained a very special message inscribed in Braille. Tissues at the ready everyone!

Following the first earthquake in Nepal, a group has been helping children overcome trauma through art therapy. The Nepal Children’s Art Museum (CAM) has been working with UNICEF to create child-friendly spaces where children can continue to be children, by using their imagination to draw, play and learn.

Prom – it’s often dubbed the “most important social event of the year” with many students ordering and preparing their dresses months in advance.17-year-old Ashley Yong from Darien, Illinois had been saving up money to attend her high school’s prom. Instead of splashing out on the perfect dress or a ticket, Yong decided to spend her savings on items such as food and toothbrushes, packed them into 20 boxes and personally delivered them to the homeless.